More Than A Place To Stay

In recent years, hospitality design has expanded beyond the idea of a simple place to rest, evolving to meet various needs and create diverse experiences. Traditionally, hotels, inns, and other hospitality destinations served as home bases for travelers, places to sleep and recharge while exploring a city or geographic area. Now, hospitality spaces serve multiple roles, from acting as immersive destinations in themselves to becoming hubs for specific communities.

Consider destinations like all-inclusive resorts or luxury spas: they’re designed not just to accommodate but to offer an experience where guests are fully immersed, often spending most of their time on the premises. Alternatively, community-focused spaces, like Soho House, are crafted for a targeted demographic—initially creatives and now a broader, like-minded audience—offering both a social space and a sense of belonging. Pamela Janisse, one of our Senior Interior Designers, notes that “Hospitality spaces today go beyond accommodation; they’re a reflection of the community and culture that surrounds them. Guests don’t just want a place to stay—they want to feel connected to where they are. It’s about creating environments that welcome and immerse, offering a sense of place that is both comforting and unique.” Hospitality design has evolved into a nuanced, multifaceted discipline that combines comfort, function, and identity, allowing spaces to feel both personal and purpose-driven.

Hospitality As A Reflection- Or Escape

Hospitality design often takes cues from its geographic location, either embracing local aesthetics or providing guests with an entirely new experience. In some cases, hospitality spaces offer a window into the surrounding culture, using design as a bridge to help guests connect with the destination. Take Nashville, for instance. Though there’s a broad array of design styles in the city, many hospitality spaces embrace an essence of vintage Americana, Southern elegance, or rustic luxury. Here, the intent is about blending in with the surrounding geography and crafting an environment that captures a familiar, yet elevated, aesthetic.

In other places, however, hospitality design creates a “portal” experience—transporting guests into a distinct design story. As Interior Designer Hannah DiNardo notes, “In certain places, hospitality spaces are designed as a tribute to local culture, while in others, they serve as a portal, letting guests experience a design story that’s entirely different from their surroundings”. For example, cities like Detroit or Chicago feature hospitality spaces that offer a bespoke experience from the industrial aesthetics of the city. Here, guests can have a dynamic and memorable experience surrounded by rich materials and design elements that may be unique to the day to day visual identity of the city. Saksey’s is a great example of this concept, with it’s lacquered, gilded design motifs offer a moment of surprise and delight from the sports bar on the main level.

Hospitality in Commercial Design

As the demand for comfortable and inspiring environments has grown, hospitality design principles are now influencing commercial and public spaces as well. Offices, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, and even educational institutions are adopting hospitality-inspired design features, creating environments that feel both functional and inviting. In modern offices, for example, the sterile cubicles of the past are being replaced with lounge-like seating, warm lighting, and inviting communal areas—an approach that prioritizes employee well-being and productivity. Retail spaces, too, are incorporating hospitality elements that invite people to linger. A high-end store may use luxurious seating, ambient lighting, and a spacious layout to make guests feel at ease, borrowing from the atmosphere of a boutique hotel lobby. This blending of hospitality and commercial design has transformed formerly utilitarian spaces into more immersive, engaging environments where people can work, relax, or socialize comfortably.

When designing our own studio, we took into account feedback from our team to ensure coming to the office was a memorable, inclusive, and comfortable experience. Overwhelmingly we have found within our own team and with clients that team members are increasingly desiring a variety of postures for their work setting, and to have a space that is not only functional, but aesthetically beautiful. By including elements of hospitality design into our studio, such as our modular Design Lab and our client-focused Parlor, we were able to curate a dynamic experience that enhances collaboration and focus for both our team and our clients.

Designing for Experience

In today’s experience-driven economy, consumers are not just looking for places to stay; they’re seeking spaces that align with their personal brand and values. Social media has amplified this trend, with guests sharing “Instagrammable” moments from memorable locations. As a result, hospitality design has adapted to create environments that resonate with individual identities and offer visually captivating backdrops that guests are eager to share with their networks.

This shift has redefined what consumers expect from hospitality spaces. They want unique, immersive experiences that foster a sense of personal connection, often through design elements that feel authentic, thoughtful, and highly curated. Many boutique hotels, for example, prioritize locally sourced decor, custom furnishings, and a cohesive aesthetic that reflects both a brand and the surrounding area. Such spaces create an experience that feels exclusive and personal, encouraging guests to celebrate and share their stay.

Fearlessness in Materiality

Recently, hospitality design has become one of the most experimental and daring areas of interior design. The industry has embraced maximalism, with bold color schemes, intricate patterns, and luxurious materials that go beyond basic functionality to create a memorable visual experience.

This shift allows hospitality designers to experiment freely with elements like lighting, patterns, and textures, transforming spaces into works of art. Rich materials such as velvet, marble, and handcrafted wood add layers of depth and texture, while bold color palettes and custom furniture create an environment that feels both curated and innovative. This experimentation extends to furniture and decor, with many hospitality spaces curating vintage pieces, one-of-a-kind decor, and custom millwork that lend authenticity and a sense of history to a space. Sydney Rieck, one of our talented Interior Designers, reveals “When it comes to materials, I love using rich textures and timeless accents that add dimension and a bit of drama—think velvet upholstery, fringe detailing, and brass fixtures.”

The modern era of hospitality design is one of creativity, identity, and connection. No longer just a place to stay, hospitality spaces are becoming platforms for personal and collective experiences. By blending comfort with bold, memorable aesthetics and functional adaptability, today’s hospitality designers are setting a new standard for how spaces can both serve and inspire. Whether honoring a local culture, creating an entirely new experience, or fostering connections among guests, hospitality design now reflects a deeper understanding of what guests value. The result is a vibrant, dynamic industry where spaces are designed to be both personal and meaningful—a true redefinition of hospitality.